With a fit out to be rivalled, a talented team to be treasured and an innovative menu to be enjoyed, Firestone Pizzeria Bar in Dickson only opened 6 weeks ago and has already secured itself as a trendy Canberra destination.
Owner Scott is certainly in the know when it comes to hospitality having worked in the industry for 15 years. His career has taken him around the nation’s capital, from kitchen hand at cafes to sous chef at Old Parliament House.
“I cooked with Fiona Wright (successful local restaurateur) for 3 years; she is the champion of hospitality, a true genius.” Scott said. The most important piece of knowledge Scott took with him is that staff are the key to any good business.
It was ‘now or never’ for Scott who always fantasised about opening his own restaurant. So when walking through Dickson one day, Scott and his wife noticed the ‘for rent’ sign in the shop window of his would-be restaurant and jumped on the opportunity. “We gave them a deposit and we stupidly went from there!” laughed the charismatic Scott.
Firestone offers the best of wood fired pizzas, indulgent pastas and assorted sharing plates.
“We like to stick to a few specific things and do them incredibly well instead of doing a million half heartedly.”
The team have just welcomed talented head chef Ash on board, who’s career has seen him take the reigns in the kitchen at Pangaea and Foreign Affair in Manuka. “Ash has a history of fine dining, this is a bit more casual than what he’s use to but he has given it a fine dining love-touch.”
Scott gave Ash the opportunity to put his own spin on the already thriving menu. “It’s like driving someone else’s car with the seat in the wrong place. I want him to adjust the seat so he’s comfortable.”
And adjust the seat he has, marking Firestone’s menu with his own unique influences Ash has created some amazing new dishes that Scott and his team love, and with the new menu recently released, the public are set to fall in love with the cold weather warmers aswell.
“You can expect good winter warming food from the new menu,” head Chef Ash said, “braised rabbit, bocconcini mushrooms, potato gnocchi, good wintery stuff.”
Standing out from the crowd, Ash is also recreating some of the more traditional home-style favourites like Tuna Mornay casserole.
“It surprises me that it’s on no ones menu. Good tuna, fresh garlic croutons on top, gruyere cheese, its old school, but people love that!”
Ash has a simplistic approach with the term ‘unpretentious food’ being used frequently. “My food will present well, it will taste great, there will be nice herbs and great flavours in there but it won’t look like someone’s spent 2 hours arranging the plate.”
There is already a hype about the old fashioned wood fired pizza at Firestone, and the team are making a point of not doing some particular pizzas that they claim are ‘overdone’ on the Canberra scene. “You won’t find chicken tandoori pizza or lamb kofta pizza on our menu, we are sticking to tradition and using a simplistic concept.
“People love it coz its simple, we go for quality, the prosciutto becomes crunchy, the cheese goes gooey, it’s not all piled on and the prosciutto is slimy underneath.”
On the theme of unusual combinations, the team are also leading their craft offering sweet desert pizzas. Already a major attraction, Scott has created some sensational sweet flavours like their apricot, pear and vanilla bean ice-cream pizza. “The desert pizzas go off, they’re massive in Melbourne and no one does it in Canberra. People have been coming in specifically for them, which is awesome.” Scott said.
Their gelati cone quartet is also a major attraction, these multi coloured gelati are presented in mini cones and positioned in a bar stand. Other than the obvious visual appeal, the gelati are infused with the tang of sweet modern flavours. They are an adorable treat for anyone who loves delightful little treats!
What can we expect from Firestone? “Wood fired pizza and good times!” Scott said. “Our customers always get more than they expect.”
Fine dining food meets relaxed atmosphere is the order of the day for the team at Firestone. “You can come in here in your Holden Racing t-shirt or a suit and tie, and you will still get treated the same. We don’t judge, you can always enjoy quality food in relaxed modern surrounds any day of the week.”
What would owner Scott be doing if he wasn’t serving Canberrans delectable wood fire pizzas everyday? “I would be fishing and Ash would be racing motorbikes.” It may be selfish, but we’re glad this talented duo aren’t giving up their day jobs.
